OSCE Centre contributes to international conference on rule of law in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 25 May 2009 - An international conference to support Kyrgyzstan's efforts to enhance the rule of law, jointly organized by the Kyrgyz Parliament, the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, the European Commission and the United Nations Development Programme, with expert contributions from the OSCE Centre in Bishkek opened today in Bishkek.

The 100 participants, including parliamentarians, the chairpersons of the Constitutional and the Supreme Courts, the head of the Presidential Administration and the Prosecutor General as well as government representatives, police officials, lawyers, civil society representatives, international experts and members of the Venice Commission will discuss constitutional principles of rule of law and separation of powers during the two-day seminar.

Other topics on the agenda include the legislative and executive branches' separate roles, the independence of the judiciary and the process and prospects of judicial system reform in the Kyrgyz Republic as well as the role of international standards in the protecting, developing and implementing democratic principles.

"Our support to enhance the rule of law, national legislation and governance covers three of the six key strategic priorities of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek. This Conference therefore mirrors and incorporates much of our core effort," said Ambassador Andrew Tesoriere, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek.

He underlined the importance of national legislation, particularly on fundamental freedoms, that conforms with international norms and obligations, and the central role of parliamentary and public debate in formulating legislation.